Ruckus over Smriti Irani’s ‘Durga’ remarks: Who said what in RS today

For the third-straight day, HRD minister Smriti Irani’s remarks over the JNU issue created a ruckus in the Parliament on Friday.

HRD minister Smriti Irani’s remarks over the JNU issue created a ruckus in the Parliament on Friday.(ANI Photo)

For the third-straight day, HRD minister Smriti Irani’s remarks over the JNU issue created a ruckus in the Parliament on Friday.

The opposition Congress had decided to stall Parliament on Friday as Irani refused to heed their demand on Thursday to stop reading from a pamphlet, which had derogatory references to goddess Durga and was allegedly brought out by a section of JNU students.

Here’s what the leaders said in Rajya Sabha on Friday:

Sitaram Yechury to Smriti Irani

I beseech you, please do not pass unverified statements as evidences.

Smriti Irani

The statement was signed by JNU students, it was not a mere pamphlet.

Sitaram Yechury about Smriti Irani

She quoted Macbeth: foul is fair and fair is foul. She is making all that is foul, fair.

Arun Jaitley to Yechury

Every word that the minister has spoken has been authenticated. If you have said something, authenticate that.

Sitaram Yechuri

Minister says there was a Dalit professor in the committee, Yes but he gave a dissenting note and quit.

Who is a good Hindu? Will they give certificates? Why is all this being brought up here in august House to divide country?

You have pushed the child to commit suicide, its virtually a murder.

Mayawati

I am not satisfied with the answer of HRD Minister, the truth is that the inquiry committee has no Dalit member.

Smriti Irani responds to Mayawati

It is incorrect that there is no member of SC community in the inquiry committee.

Rohith Vemula was not denied any fellowship money.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman in RS

5 people shouting and strangling the voice of other MPs, is that democracy?

Sitaram Yechuri

MA Naqvi should withdraw for saying that we don’t allow legislation work to happen in RS.

RS speaker

What I can do now is, I will go through the record & expunge anything that is blasphemous.

RS speaker

It is a tradition of the House that no blasphemous things will be said here.

Smriti Irani

I myself am a Durga worshipper, I said it with a lot of pain.

MA Naqvi

All we hear from Opposition is them asking for apologies, so will no legislation be done in the House any more?.

Ali Anwar, JDU

So many pamphlets are distributed everyday, so will all of them which hurt sentiments be read in RS?.

Smriti Irani

I read it because I was asked to explain what is the proof.

Smriti Irani

These are authenticated documents from the university itself. These are not government documents.

Smriti Irani

The documents I read yesterday are officials documents from the university, these are not documents of the government.

Smriti Irani

There were comments made on veracity of facts yesterday.

Anand Sharma

We kept requesting her to stop but she didn’t, nothing blasphemous must be tolerated in RS.

Anand Sharma

HRD minister must apologise for what she said about Goddess Durga, it’s blasphemous.